Autism spectrum disorder (ASD) is a
developmental disability caused by differences in the brain. People with ASD
often have problems with social communication and interaction, and restricted
or repetitive behaviors or interests. People with ASD may also have different
ways of learning, moving, or paying attention.
New research findings in mouse models of
one genetic risk for autism support the idea that loss of a specific gene
interferes with cells in the brain whose role is to inhibit signaling. Though
there are fewer of these cells than other neurons and their signals don’t
travel very far, they have enormous influence on patterns of information transmission
within the brain and to the rest of the body.
Ohio State University
researchers found that deleting a copy of the autism-risk gene Arid1b
from specific brain cells decreased the number of inhibitory cells and lowered
signaling between inhibitory cells and the excitatory cells they help control.
Previous research has suggested reduced inhibitory signals in mouse models of
the disorder result in a range of autism-related behaviors.
In separate experiments, the
scientists found that signaling changes linked to inhibitory cells
can be seen in the same genetic mouse models of autism spectrum disorder (ASD)
very shortly after birth, but the disruption might not be strong enough to
interfere with normal brain development powered by a host of other genes.
Studying disease risk genes’ effects on
brain circuitry is intended to pave the way to possible therapies, but this
pursuit also offers insights into how normal circuits function because “in many
cases, that’s still a mystery, concluded the researchers.
Reference:
The hunt for disrupted brain
signals behind autism; OHIO STATE UNIVERSITY, MEETING- Neuroscience 2022.